The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-16
THE MODERN MUSIC BOX.
Some Interesting Facts Not Generally
KnOwn-High-PriCed Boxes.

some Interesting Facts Not Generally
KnOwn-High-PrIced Boxes.
New York Mail and Expressl
"There are good many facts about
of " remarked a dealer to a reporter re-
Gently. In the first place, they were in
vented 100 years ago and in Switzerland.
They all come from that country, even at
the present time Why2 Because the
labor required to make them is too costly
in this country. The length of time a
must box will play varies considerably.
They are furnished with one, two or
four powerful springs, and will play for
four, six, eight, fifteen twenty five or
seventy five minutes according to the
size of the box and the number of springs
it is provided with. AS rule the works
are inclosed in highly polished inlaid
cases of a variety of rich woods. They
never require tuning, as many people sup
pose but if the simple instructions
which accompany each box are followed,
they will last a lifetime, re iuiring, like a
clock, only an occasional cleaning. There
are number of cautions which should be
told to every one who owns a music box
Under no circumstances should it be
moved while it is playing; it should never
be allowed to remain run down in the
middle of a tune; neither the fly-wheel
nor any part of the movement should be
unscrewed unless it is certain that the in
strument has entirely run down.
"W hat is new in the music-b box liner"
Several things. One with interchange
able cylinders for instance. Boxes with
only one cylinder play from one to twelve
tunes. but we have just introduced class
of boxes with interchangeable cylinders
of six tunes each. By means of these the
number of tunes to box may beincreased
indefinitely. We keep these cylinders in
stock and special tunes are often ordered
for them Another new thing is the
Narcotics, a musical doll made in Paris.
1t is dolls head and shoulders attached
to stick in'the shape of handle, and
the child by taking hold of the sticSand
whirling it around in a small circle,
makes the head move while the music
box inside plays tune The whole con-
trivance is about foot long. aud the dolls
have very pretty faces and are tastefully
dressed in red white and blue. Another
novelty is q cigar holder with places for
large number of cigars. 1t is turret-
shaped, with doors at each partition, and
as it moves around it plays tune. The
dolls cost 81 each, and the cigar-stands
from 80 upwards
"What tunes do people prefer in the
boxes just now?"
Light operate music and popular
American airs, But there is no end to
the variety of tunes in them Our boxes
are provided with all the favorite dances,
marches, national airs, and ballads, as
we'll as with the best selections from the
most popular operas. ballots. etc.
What are some of the pricesf"
You can buy a music box for 90 cents,
and have sold one in this city for as
high as %, 900. But this was a number
of ears ago. Some are as large as an
upright piano, and cost $4,000 These
have an unlimited number of tunes, owing
to the interchangeable cylinders The 30
cent boxes have twenty eight teeth, play
one tune, and are made round or square,
of japanned tin, wood or papier- mache.